Apparatus for harvesting vegetables



April 26Q1949 w. n... soRENsoN 2,468,276

APPARATUS FOR HARVESTING VEGTABI'JES Filed July 26, 1945. 6 Sheets-Sheetl l/Z a /15 Il' Il My j I 1 511; 3@ '//03 4 il I F wi 55 (W 'l l d 1 31,

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Il 'LT l: "y 55 7 J1 1 1 3/ {5} 90 dp @j INVENTOR M. l lai, --7/ p foyyW. L. Sorenson April 26, 1949. w. L.. soRENsoN APPARATUS Fon HARvE'sTmGvEGETABLEs 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 26, 1945 gmm W. 'L S01 'ansa/2pri 26, H94. l w. n.. sORENsoN 2,468,276

APPARATUS FOR HARVESTING' VEGETABLES Filed July 26, 1945 I 6 shams-sheet3 @Y ,ma .m ma; E S 0 EM W T ww S f. w

April 26, 1949.. w. L. soRl-:NsoN

APPARATUS FOR HARVESTING VEGETABLES 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed July 26, 1945INVENToR.

ATTORNEY d0' W L Sorenson April 26, 1949. w. soRENsoN' 4 i 2,468,276

APPARATUS FOR HARVESTING VEGETABLES I April 26, 1949. w. L. soRr-:NsoN

y I APPARATUS FOR HAHVESTING VEGETABLES 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed July '26,1945l R n E Wm. W w/ L@ Y, j Y Aw Patented Apr. 1949 UNITED STATESPATENT OFFICE APPARATUS FOR HARVESTING VEGETABLES WendellL. Sorenson,Great Neck, N. Y.

Application July 26, 1945, Serial No. 607,137

9 Claims.

This invention relates to agricultural apparatus for harvestingvegetables, such as broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, celery, kale,spinach and Swiss chard, comprising a tractor section having power meansand adapted to travel between rows of vegetables, and a cutter sectionor sections carried by the tractor section and arranged with cuttermeans to extend transversely of a row of vegetables on a side or on bothsides of the tractor section and adapted to cut the vegetables atpredetermined portions thereof depending on the type of vegetable beingharvested.

It is an object of the invention to provide a harvesting apparatus ofthis character which is of light weight so that said apparatus mayreadily be operated on loose or boggy soil in which some of thevegetables are raised without the apparatus bogging in said soil.

It is another object of the invention to provide cutter means which willnot become clogged with the soil.

It is a further object of the invention to provide adjustable cuttermeans to accommodate the apparatus for harvesting crops of differenttypes of vegetables.

Another object of the invention is to mount a cutter whereby it willreadily enter the soil and cut the vegetables at the root portionthereof.

Another object of the invention is to provide a pair of cutter means tocut the vegetables at the root and top portions thereof.

A further object of the invention is to provide the cutter section withmeans to guide and compress the vegetables relative to the cutter meansto facilitate the cutting of said vegetables.

It is a still further object of the invention to provide a tractorsection comprising a frame supported by steering and driving wheels andcarrying power means operatively connected to the driving wheels todrive the same, a cutter section comprising a U-shaped frame adjustablymounted on the tractor section frame to extend from a side or both sidesof the tractor section and straddle a row or rows of vegetables, a pairof endless band cutters operatively supported by the U-shaped frame ofthe cutter section, one of said band cutters having a portion travelingacross the space between the free ends of the leg portions of theU-shaped frame to cut the vegetables at the root portion and the otherband cutter having a portion traveling across the space between the legportions adjacent to the connecting portion of the U-shaped frame to cutthe top portion of the vegetables and a row o rollers rotatablysupported by the leg portions 2 of the U-shaped frame to guide andcompress the vegetables relative to the cutting portions of the bandcutters, and means to transmit the power of the power means of thetractor section to the band cutters.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be hereinafterpointed out in the detailed description of the invention.

In the .drawings accompanying and forming a part of this application,

Figure i is a front elevational view of the apparatus forming theembodiment of the invention with the front portion of the tractorsection in cross section.

Figure 2 is a side elevational view, onl a reduced scale, oi theapparatus looking at the right hand side of Figure l with a steeringwheel of the tractor section shown.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary view in front elevation of the free endsection of a leg portion of the U-shaped frame of the cutter section toshow the guiding of the cutting portion of the band cutter for cuttingthe vegetables at the root portion.

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken on the line d--l of Figure 3 lookingin the direction of the arrows.

Figure 5 is a side elevational view of the structure shown in Figure 3looking at the right hand side of Figure 3.

Figure 6 is a sectional view, on an enlarged scale, taken on the line 66 of Figure 3 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure '7 is a view looking at the top of Figure 2 with the steeringwheel supporting portion of the tractor section in section.

Figure 8 is a sectional view, on an enlarged scale, taken on the line8-8 of Figure 7 looking in the direction of the arrows to show means foradjusting the U-shaped frame of the cutter section.

Figure 9 is a fragmentary plan view of a portion of the frame of thetractor section showing an arm for supporting the U-shaped frame of thecutter section from the frame of the tractor section and a support insection for power transmitting means.

Figure 10 is a sectional view taken on the line lll-I0 of Figure 8looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 11 is a sectional view, on an enlarged scale, taken on the lineIl-II of Figure 1 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 12 is a front elevational view looking substantially from theline |2-l2 of Figure 13 Y 'caesars in the direction 'of the arrows ofthe U-shaped frame of the cutter section with a dust protecting coverremoved from the upper portion of said frame and a portion of a drum forsupporting the band cutters in section and rails for supporting the rowsof vegetable guiding and compressing rollers in section to show framesfor mounting said rails on the leg portions of the U-shaped frame with aportion of one of said frames broken away to show a dust protectingcoverfor the leg portions of the U-shaped frame and an intermediateportion of said cover broken away.

Figure 13 is a sectional view taken on the line |3|3 of Figure l2looking in the direction of the arrows with a portion of the vegetablesguiding and compressing rollersin section to show the structure andmounting of the same.

The tractor section includes a frame having a straight body portion 2|terminating at the front end in an upwardly extending neck portion 22arranged with a tubular head or bearing 2l for rotatably supporting afork `member 24.ro tatably carrying a steering traction wheel 25 andsaid fork member being actuated to steer the wheel 25 by a hand wheel 26fixed to a shaft 21 connectedto the fork member. The rear end of Figure14 is a cross sectional view,'on an enlarged scale, of the upper portionof Figure 1 taken on the line |4|4 of Figure. 1 looking in the directionof the arrows to show the drum, the power transmitting means and theadjusting means for the U-shaped frame.

Figure 15 is a. cross sectional view, on an enlarged scale, taken on theline |5|5 of Figure 1 looking in the direction of the arrows to show themounting of the lower portion of the band cutters and the mounting ofthe-vegetable lguiding and compressing rollers.

Figure 16 is a cross sectional view, on` an enlarged scale, taken on theline |6|6 of Figure l looking in the direction of the arrows to show themounting of the lower portion of the band cutter for cuttin'g thevegetables at the root portion.

Figure 17 is a longitudinal sectional View taken on the line |1`|`| ofFigure l looking in the direction of the arrows to show the adjustablemounting of the U-shaped frame of the cutter section on the frame of thetractor section.

Figure 18 is a rear View, on a reduced scale, of the upper portion ofFigure 1 to show a pivotal connection of the support for the powertransmitting means with the axis of the drum for the band cutters.

Figure 19 is a complete front elevational view of the apparatus shown inoperative position relative to rows of celery and showing in dot anddash lines an adjusted position of the cutter section.

Figure 20 is a side elevational view of a row of celery showing inbroken lines the relative position of guiding and compressing rollersand the band cutters for cutting the root and top portions of the celeryand showing in full lines the upper portion of theapparatus.

The embodiment of the invention is shown in connection with theharvesting of celery, but it is to be understood that the apparatus isadapted to harvest similar types of vegetables, such as broccoli,cabbage, cauliiiowenkale, spinach and Swiss chard. The apparatusformingthe embodiment of the invention comprises a tractor section,designated in a general way by A, and a cutter section, designated in ageneral way by B, the cutter section being shown as a single unitmounted at a, side of the tractor section, but the cutter section may beof two units with each unit mounted at a side of the tractor section.The tractor section is adapted to travel between the rows of vegetableswith the cutter section or cutter sections extending transversely orstraddling a row of vegetables on one side or both sides of the tractorsection.

the frame body portion 2| is of increased width and arranged with aparallel pair of spaced recesses extending inwardly from lthe rear endto form a double bifurcated portion, as shown at 28 in Figure 7, and theouter end sections of the leg portions of the bifurcations extending inan upward direction and terminating in bearing members, as shown at 2lin Figures 1, 2 and 19, for a rotatable shaft 88 extending transverselyof the bifurcations 28. Driving traction wheels 8| are ilxedly mountedon the shaft 30 to rotate therewith in the bifurcations 28 and drivenfrom a suitable source of power, such as an internal combustion engine32 having its output shaft 33 operatively connected to a speed reductionmechanism 34 having its outputshaft operatively connected to the shaft30 by a sprocket chain 35 engaging around sprocket wheels on the outputshaft of the speed reduction mechanism and the shaft 3l). The engine I2and speed reduction mechanism 34 are shown in a general way and aremounted on the frame body portion 2|, as shown in Figures 2 and 7. Aseat for the operator may be arranged in heat insulated relation on theengine so that the operator may readily grasp the hand wheel 26 insitting position, or the hand wheel may be actuated by the operatorwalking alongside of the tractor section as the apparatus will travel ata low rate of speed due to the speed reduction mechanism. Thedrivingwheels 3| are spaced apart a minimum distance with the steering wheel 25in alinement with the. space between said driving wheels to aifordsuillcient support for the `tractor and cutter sections while travelingrelative to the rows of vegetables, as shown in Figure 19.

The cutter section B is supported by the tractor section A by a standard86 of angle shape inA cross section, as shown in Figure 10, having aflanged bottom secured to the tractor section frame at the junctureofthe body portion 2| and a bifurcated portion 28, as shown at 81. If twocutter sections are to be used, another standard 88 will be mounted onthe opposite side of the tractor section frame at the-juncture of thebody portion 2| and the other bifurcated portion 28.

The cutter section B includes a U-shaped frame having a connecting plateportion 38 arranged with a central conical recess 38 projecting from therear face of the connecting plate portion and leg portions 40 dependingfrom opposite sides of the connecting portion 38 and having the free endsection extending inwardly toward each other, as shown at 4|. The outerfree edge of the connecting portion 38 is anged outwardly from the frontface, as shown at 42 in Figures 12, 13 and 14, and the outerlongitudinal edge of the leg portions 48, 4| are anged outwardly fromthe front faces, as shown at 43 in Figures f3 to 6, inclusive, 15 and16.

The U -shaped frame is adjustably mounted on the standard 36 to positionthe inwardly extending section 4| toward and away from the ground, asindicated at G in Figures 19 and 20, to cut different portions ofvegetables V or to cut different types of vegetables, as willhereinafter be more fully disclosed. This adjustable mounting isaccomplished by providing an arm in the form of an angle memberconsisting of a side portion having an intermediate section 44 bentobliquely to the plane of the other side portion 45, as shown in Figures9 and 14, and the free end section of the first side portion bent toextend in a plane parallel to the plane of the side portion 45, as shownat 46, and arranged with a' boss 4l' reinforced by a rib 48. The sideportion 45 is slidably mounted on the standard 3e, as shown in Figures8, 10, 11, and 1'?, by secin'ing blocks t9 to the inner face of theportion 45 and said blocks 49 slidably engaged in elongated openings Uspaced from each other in a wall of the standard t6 with the upper blockslidable on a smooth surfaced portion 5| at the upper end of,

a shaft rotatably mounted in bearings 52 projecting from the inner faceof the wall arranged with the openings 50 of the standard 36. Anintermediate portion of said shaft is screw threaded,

as shown at 53, and operatively engaged in the lower block t9 and thelower end portion of the shaft is rotatably mounted in the lower bearing52 of the standard 36 and retained in said bearing against longitudinalmovement by collars 5t secured to the shaft in abutting relation withthe opposite ends of the bearings, as shown in Figure 17, wherebyrotation of the shaft will impart reciprocation to the arm 44--48. Theshaft 5I, 53 iseither actuated by a suitable tool, such as a wrench,applied to a head 55 on the end of the shaft extending from the lowercollar i4, or by a hand wheel 55 fixed on an end of a shaft 56 rotatablysupported at the end portion adjacent to the hand wheel by a bearing 51carried by a bracket 5B mounted on the flange portions 62 and 43 of theframe 38-43. The opposite end portion of the shaft 56 is rotatablysupported in a bearing 59 arranged as a boss extending from the innerface of the wall arranged with the openings 50 of the standard 35, asshown in Figures 8 and 10, and said end of the shaft 56 is operativelyconnected to the shaft portion 5l by a worm 60 fixed on the shaft 56meshing with a gear 5 I' xed on the shaft portion 5I, whereby actuationof the hand wheel 55 will impart rotation to the shaft 5i 53 andreciprocation to the arm dd-d and actuate the cutter section frame 38-43in a vertical plane. To reinforce the connection between the arm 44-48and the frame 38--d3, there are provided braces 52, as shown in Figures1, 2, 12, 13 and l5, of any suitable form xed at the opposite ends tothe arm side portion t5 and the rear faces of the connecting portion 3dand the adjacent leg por ytion t0.

The cutter section frame 38-43 is adapted to operatively support cuttermeans to cut various types of vegetables, and said cutter means shown inthe present illustration of the invention is particularly adapted forharvesting celery and other similar vegetables where .it is desired tosever the vegetables from their roots and also top the vegetables. Thiscutten means comprises a pair of endless band cutters 53, 54, the

Vcutter 63 being of greater circumference to travel in a path extendingaround the connecting portion 38, downwardly along one of the legportions 40, across the space between the inwardly extending endsections 4l of said leg portions and upwardly along the other legportion 40 to the connecting portion 38. The other band cutter 64 is ofless circumference to travel within the path of travel of the bandcutter 63 and in a path extending around the connecting portion 36,'

downwardly a short distance along one of the leg portions 46, across thespace between the leg portions 40 adjacent the connecting portion 36 andupwardly along the other leg portion 40 to the connecting portion 35.The portions of both band cutters traveling relative to the connectingportion 38 are supported by a drum 65 having two flanges 66, 61 ofdifferent diameters, the flange 65 of larger diameter being adapted tosupport the band cutter 63 and the flange E1 of smaller diameter beingadapted to support the band cutter 64. The drum 55 is rotatablysupported on a stud shaft 68 iixedly mounted at one end in the boss 41of the supporting arm td- 48, as shown in Figures 13 and 14. The flange66 rotates within the angle formed by the connecting portion 88 and theange 42, and the drum 65 and flange 61 are enclosed by a dust protectingcover having a portion 69 corresponding to the connecting portion 38 anddepending leg portions 1d corresponding to the section of the legportions 40 adjacent to the connecting portion 38. The cover portion 39has a center opening 1I for the passage of the stud shaft 68 and theouter marginal section of said portion 69 is 4first bent perpendicularlyfrom the inner faceand then bent laterally to form an L portion, as.shown at 12 in Figures 13 and 14. The inner edge section of the coverleg portions 1li is bent. perpendicularly from the inner face, as at 13in Figure 15, and the outer edge section of said leg portions is bent toL shape, as shown at 14. The cover 69-14 is pivotally mounted on theflange 42 at a side of the connecting portion 38-and on the flange 43 ofone of the leg portions 40 by a knuckle 15 arranged on the L-shaped edgeportions 12 and 14 and engaged between a pair of perforated ears 16arranged on the flanges 42 and 43 with a pintleV 11 engaged in saidknuckle and ears, as shown in Figures 1, 12, 14 and 15.

The cover 69-14 is releasably secured in closed position by a pair oflatches 1B comprising a member pivotally mounted on portions of theflanges 42, 43 opposite the portions of the anges d2, 43

arranged with the ears 16 and having a wing nut screw threadedon saidmember, and said latch 1B engaging a recess 19 in a projection of A thecorresponding portion of the laterally ex.. tending section of theL-shaped edge portions 12 and 14 of the cover portions 69 and lll,respectively, as shown in Figures 1, 12, 14 and 15.. The band cutter 63extends from the drum;

`flange 56 along the frame leg portions 40 and is supported attheinwardly extending end sections 4l of said leg portions by a seriesof three rollers on each end section 4I, each roller having a pair ofspaced iianges and the portion between the flanges of the upper rollerbeing straight and said portion of the two lower rollers being taperedinwardly, as shown in Figures 4, 6, 15 and 16, and all the rollersrotatably mounted on a pin 8| fixed in a boss B2 on the inner face ofthe leg section 4I. The pins 8| are positioned on each leg section 4I toextend in an arc so that the upper roller 8l! is furthest from thelongitudinal center of the frame 38-43 and the lower roller is nearestsaid longitudinal center. The band cutter 63 travels in a substantiallyvertical plane from the drum ange 56 to the upper roller 80 and travelsin an inwardly converging path from said upper roller while travelingover the two lower rollers 80 and then travels from the lower roller 80of. one set of three rollers to the lower roller of the other set ofrollers across the space between the leg sections 4|, as shown at 88.Due to the taper of the two lower rollers 80 of each set of rollers, thewidth of said portion 88 of the band cutter 63 will extend in adownwardly direction with the forward edge of said portion lowermost tofacilitate said portion 88 to enter the soil and cut the vegetables atthe root portion thereof, as shown in Figures 19 and 20. The portions ofthe band cutter 68 traveling along the leg portions 40-43 of the cuttersection frame is enclosed in said portions by two pairs of coverspivotally mounted on the leg portions 40 and end sections 4 I, one pairof covers comprising hingedly connected sections 84, 85, section 84being pivotally mounted on the flange 43 of the leg portion 40 by hinges86 similar to the hinges 15-11 and said sections 84, 85 being releasablysecured in cutter enclosing position by a latch 81 in lthe form of abolt engaged in the cover section 84 and the leg portion 4! and a wingnut screw threaded on said bolt. The hinge connection between the coversections 84 and 85 permits the cover sections `to be folded upon eachother in the open position of said cover, as shown in dot and dash linesin Figure 4, whereby the cutter is readily accessible. The other pair ofdust covers consist of a member 88 of angle shape in cross section andconforming to the longitudinal contour of the end sections" and havingone side portion pivotally mounted on the flange 43 of the section 4| bya hinge 89 and the other side portion engaging the free side edge of theend section 4|, as shown in Figure 16. The covers 88 are releasablysecured in closed position by a latch 90 similar to the latches 81mounted on a lateral projection of the end section 4| and adapted toengage a recess in a, lateral projection at the juncture of the angleportion of the covers 88, as shown in Figures 1 and 3. The flanges 43 ofthe leg sections 4| are extended to the bottom of said sections andarranged with an opening 43 for the passage of the band cutter 63, asshown in Figure 6.

The band cutter 64 travels from the drum flange 61 until it reaches thejunctures between the' connecting portion 88 and leg portions 43 whereit is engaged by two sets of three rollers 9|, each roller beingrotatably mounted on a pin similar to the pin 8| fixed in a boss 92 onthe inner face of the leg portions 40 adjacent to the connecting portion88. The rollers 9| of each set are arranged in an arcuate line similarto the rollers 80 so that .the travel of the band cutter 84 willconverge from the vertical path of travel to a horizontal path of travelextending across the space between the leg portions 40, and saidhorizontal path of travel, as indicated at 93, is adapted to cut the topportion of the vegetables, such as the leaves or foliage of celery.

As shown in the drawings, the cutting portion 93 of the band cutter 64will cut the foliage of the celery prior to the cutting of the celery atthe rootportion by the cutting portion 83 of the band cutter 63. Thedrum flanges 66 and 61, and the rollers 80 and 9| may be arranged s0that the band cutters 63 and 64 travel in the same vertical plane tosimultaneously cut the celery at the root and foliage portions, or thedrum flange 61 and rollers 9| may extend in a, vertical plane rearwardlyof the vertical plane in which the drum flange 66 and rollers 80 extendso that the root portion is cut prior to the cutting of the foliageportion of the celery.

The adjustment of the frame 38-48 by the rotation of the shaft 53 willadjust the cut- 8 ting portions 88 and 93 of the band cutters 88 and 84,respectively, relative to the vegetables, so that different portions ofthe vegetables or different types of vegetables may be cut.

The band cutters 63 and 64 are simultaneously actuated to continuouslytravel in their predetermined paths from the engine 32 through powertransmitting means comprising a pulley having a. double grooved rim, asindicated at 94 and 95 in Figures 2, '1 and 14, and rotatably mounted onan end portion of a stud shaft 96 fixed in bosses of a bifurcated end 91of an arm 98 rotatably mounted on a stud 93 fixed in a laterallyextending end' of the standard 36. The pivotal or rotatable mounting ofthe arm 98 will permit the pulley 94, 95 to participate in theadjustment of the frame 38-43 on the standard 86 and said adjustment ofthe frame will be imparted to the pulley through a link |00 rotatablyengaged at one end on the shaft 96 between the bifurcation 91 androtatably mounted at the opposite end on a portion of the shaft 68between the boss 41 and the hub of drum 65, as shown in Figures 14 and18, and the link |00 extending through an elongated opening |0| in thewall of the conical recess 39. The pulley 94, 95 is directly driven fromthe engine 32 through an endless belt |02 engaged around a pulley |03 onthe output shaft 33 and the pulley groove 94 and the rotation of thepulley 94, 95 is transmitted to the drum 65 through an endless belt |04engaged around the pulley groove 95 and a pulley |05 fixed on anextended hub portion |06 of the drum 65. The direct driving connectionbetween the engine 32 and drum 65 will actuate the band cutters 63 and64 at a high rate of speed in comparison with the low rate of travel ofthe tractor section. The band cutters 63 and 64 will present a very thincutting edge which will readily and cleanly cut the vegetables.

To facilitate the cutting of the vegetables by the cutting portions 83and 93 of the band cutters 63 and 64, respectively, the vegetables areguided and compressed relative to said cutting portions by spaced rowsof guiding and compressing members comprising a series of rollers |01rotatably supported on equidistantly spaced shafts |08 mounted at theopposite end portions in openings in the bottom wall of a pair ofchannel rails |09 having an end portion extending in a divergingdirection, as shown at H0 in Figures 7 and 15, and the opposite endportion extending in a straight or parallel direction, as shown at lll.The rotatable mounting of the rollers |81 will reduce the frictionbetween the top portion of the vegetables and said rollers and reducethe amount of drag on the tractor. mounted on the cutter frame 38-43 tohave the diver-ging portions ||0 extend forwardly of the cuttingportions 83 and 93 and the parallel portions extend relative to saidcutting portions by brackets comprising two pairs of arms ||2 fixed atone end to the flanges 43 at the opposite ends of the leg portions 40and angle members i3 mounted at a side portion on the free end portionsof the arms ||2 and the other side portion of the angle members carryingbolts ||4 to engage elongated slots ||5 in the top and bottom portionsof frame members ||6 supporting the rails |09. The bolts ||4 and slots||5 permit adjustment of the rollers |01 toward and away from each otherto accommodate vegetables of different dimensions. The slots i|5 may beof greater The rails are i justment of the rows of rollers |01 to havethe rows diverge from the top toward the bottom or from the bottomtoward the top to accommodate vegetables of diierent longitudinalcontour.

The cutter section may be readily attached to a standard type of tractorwithout departing from the scope of the linvention where the soil cansupport such a tractor.

The number of cutter bands may be more than two when it is desired tocut the vegetables being harvested into a plurality of parts.

The apparatus is also suitable for harvesting grain and sugar cane.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In apparatus for harvesting vegetables, a frame, an endless bandcutter operatively supported by the frame with a portion traveling in aplane transversely of a row of vegetables to cut the vegetables at theroot portion thereof, and a second endless band cutter operativelysupported by the frame and having a portion traveling in a planeparallelly of the transversely traveling portion of the first bandcutter to cut the top por tion of the vegetables.

2. In apparatus for harvesting vegetables, a frame, an endless bandcutter operatively supported by the frame with a portion traveling in aplane transversely of a row of vegetables to cut the vegetables at theroot portion thereof, a. second endless band cutter operativelysupported by the frame and having a portion traveling parallelly of thetransversely traveling portion of the first band cutter to cut the topportion of the vegetables, and power means operatively connected to andsimultaneously actuating both band cutters.

- 3. In apparatus for harvesting vegetables, a frame, an endless bandcutter operatively supported by the frame with a portion traveling in apath transversely of a row of vegetables to cut the vegetables, andspaced rows of guide members comprising a pair of frame membersadjustably mounted on the frame to have adjustment toward and away fromone another and in angular relation to the frame, and a series ofrollers ro" tatably supported on the frame members to participate in theadjustments of the frame members whereby the rows of rollers areadjusted to= ward and away from one another and in angular relation withone another to accommodate diierent shape and size vegetables.

4. In apparatus for harvesting vegetables, a U-shaped frame, a drumrotatably mounted on the connecting portion of the frame, a series ofsupporting guide rollers rotatably mounted on the free end sections ofthe leg portions of the frame and tapered inwardly toward the legsections, and an endless band cutter passing over the drum and rollerswith a portion extending across the space between the leg portions tocut the vegetables extending into the space between the leg portions ofthe frame and the width of said latter portion of the band cutter beingpositioned by the taper of the rollers to extend in an inclineddirection toward the ground to facilitate the entering of the bandcutter into the ground.

5. In apparatus for harvesting vegetables, a U-shaped frame, a drumhaving a pair of anges of diierent diameters and rotatably mounted onthe connecting portion of the frame, a series of supporting guiderollers rotatably mounted on the free end sections of the leg portionsof the frame in the plane of the drum flange of larger diameter, asecond series of supporting rollers rotatably mounted on the legportions adjacent to the connecting portion of the frame in the plane ofthe drum ilange ofsmaller diameter, an endless band cutter passingaround the drum iiange of larger diameter and the nrst series ofsupporting rollers with a portion spanning the space between the freeends of the leg portions of the frame to cut the vegetables at the rootportion thereof, and a second endless band cutter passing around thedrum ange of smaller diameter and the second series of rollers with aportion spanning the space between the leg portions adjacent to theconnecting portion of the frame to cut the top portion of thevegetables.

6. In apparatus for harvesting vegetables, a U-shaped frame, an endlessband cutter operatively supported by said U-shaped frame with a portiontravelling across the space between the free ends of the leg portions ofthe U-shaped frame to cut vegetables at the root portion thereof, asecond endless band cutter operatively supported by the U-shaped framewith a portion traveling across the space between the leg portion andadjacent to the connecting portion of the U-shaped frame to cut the topportion of the vegetables, and a row of members adjustably mounted oneach leg portion of the U-shaped frame between the cutting portions ofthe band cutters to guide and compress the vegetables relative to saidcutting portions.

'7. In apparatus for harvesting vegetables, a tractor section comprisinga frame supported by steering and driving wheels, power means mounted onsaid frame and operatively connected to the driving wheels to drive thesame and a standa ard supported by the frame of the tractor section, acutter section comprising an angle arm having a side portion slidablymounted on the standard, a U-shaped frame mounted on the other sideportion of the angle arm whereby said U-shaped frame is adjustablysupported by the standard of the tractor section, a drum rotatablymounted on the connecting portion of the U-shaped frame of the cuttersection, a series of rollers rotatably mounted on the free end sectionof the leg portions of the U-shaped frame, an endless band cutterpassing around the drum and rollers with a portion extending across thespace between the leg portions of the U-shaped frame to cut vegetablesextending into said space between the leg portions, the slidingadjustment of the arm of the cutter section on the standard of thetractor section varying the position of the cutting portion of the bandcutter relative to the height of the vegetables, and a drivingconnection between the power means of the tractor section and the drumof the cutter section comprising an arm -pivotally mounted on thestandard and pivotally connected to the axis of said drum to participatein the adjustment of the U-shaped frame and a pulley rotatably supportedby said arm and operatively connected with the power means of thetractor section and the drum of the cutter section.

8. In apparatus for harvesting vegetables as claimed in claim 7, meanscarried by the standard of the tractor section and operatively connectedto the arm of the cutter section to impart adjustment to said arm.

9. In apparatus for harvesting vegetables, a tractor section comprisinga frame supported by steering and driving wheels and Ipower meanscarried by said frame and operatively connected to the driving wheels todrive the same, a cutter section comprising a U-shaped frame supportedby the `frame of the tractor section to extend at a side of the tractorsection with the U-shaped frame straddling a row of vegetables and thesteering and driving wheels of the tractor section engaging the groundat a side of said row of vegetables, a pair of endless band cuttersoperatively supported by the U-shaped frame of the cutter section, oneof said band cutters having a portion traveling across the space betweenthe tree ends of the leg portions of the U-shaped frame to cut thevegetables at the root portion and the other band cutter having aportion traveling across the space between the leg portions adjacent tothe connecting portion of the U-shaped frame to cut the top portion ofthe vegetables and a row of members adjustably mounted on the legportions of the U-shaped frame between the cutting portions of theendless band cutters to guide and compress the vegetables relative tosaid cutting portions, and means to transmit the power of the powermeans to the endless band cutters.

WENDELL L. SORENSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le ofthis patent:

669 Great Britain 1877

